Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan Temples, Indonesia

The stunning ballet rendition of the epic Ramayana staged year after
year in Indonesia is one of the most popular tourist attractions, discovers
Nausheen Tareen

People usually plan visiting iconic temples and
cathedrals, grand mosques and Buddhist monasteries while travelling. We had no
such plans when we were heading out to Indonesia. All we wanted to do was dig
our heels in the white sand beaches of Bali and laze around by the sea. That is
when a friend suggesting adding the town of Yogyakarta on the island of Java to
our itinerary and attend the Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan Temples.

Little did we know that Valmiki’s tale of Lord Rama
narrated in Javanese was the biggest attraction of the town that drew tourists
from across the globe since 1961. A quick research and a communication with the
national tourism authority of the two temples - Borobudur and Parambanan -
informed us that Ramayana Ballet was first performed on the full moon night of
August 25, 1961 and since then 200 artistes have been rendering a musical
version of this Hindu epic ever since. The first performance was attended by
the then President Sukarno and has since gone on to host countless shows and
treat thousands of tourists from across the globe to a unique rendition of
Ramayana replete with local dance, costumes, make up and music.

In 2012, the ballet was named in the Guinness Book as the most continuously staged play.

Such has been the popularity of Ramayana Ballet with
Parambanan Temples, the largest temple in Indonesia that it is rated by many
visitors as one of the most unique and must attend experiences across popular
travel sites. The three temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma at
Parambanan were built in 9th century and are Indonesia’s cultural heritage
icons. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and along with Buddhist Borobudur
temple are the biggest travel attractions on Java Island.

The performances are held either in open theatre or
inside the indoor theatre Tri Murti from 7.30 pm onwards every alternate night.
It is best to check the schedule before heading out. Tickets to the show are
easily available though you can book them in advance as well. The show is
divided into four episodes - The Loss of Dewi Sita, Hanoman the Messenger, The
Death of Kumbakarna and The Holy Fire of Dewi Sita. The story has Javanese
influences and local interpretation. But the entire narration is a vibrant
ballet high on innovative lighting, bright costume colors and local orchestra’s
music that leaves visitors hooked.

In 2012, the ballet was named in the Guinness Book as
the most continuously staged play. The play and the setting is a tribute to
Indonesia’s cultural heritage where two prominent Hindu and Buddhist temples
exist near each other in a Muslim majority country. The cast of the ballet too
is predominantly Muslim. Yet the show has been mesmerizing people for half a
century and now Ramayana Ballet troupes are invited for special shows across
the globe. Next time you are planning a visit to Indonesia, make sure you add
Ramayana ballet to your plan. The story of Lord Rama, Dewi Shinta, Anoman and
Rahwana presented as Wayang Wong or Javanese dance theatrical performance will
leave you mesmerized!

How: Yogyakarta has direct flights from prominent
Indonesian cities such as Jakarta. The temple complex is roughly 15 kilometers
or a 40 minutes’ drive away from the city and can be reached by a taxi or a
rented car.